Apparatus for synchronizing pictures with sound



Jan. 3, 1939. J M Rm EY 2,142,141

APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING PICTURES WITH SOUND Filed NOV. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1939. w. J. MORRISSEY 2,142,141

7 APPARATUS FOR SYNCHHONIZING PICTURES WITH SOUND Filed NOV. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR- SYNCHBONIZING PICTURES; WITH SOUND William J. Morrlssey, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November. 13, 1935, SerialNo. 49,447

6 Claims. (c1. sat-16.2)

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for synchronizing pictures with sound and has for a principal object the provision of a device for. projecting pictures and producing sound, in which the record in the sound reproducing portion of the machine are driven at a constant speed ona drum, or the like, having a smooth surface, and in which the film through the picture projecting portion of the machine,

or .otherwise positively driven, said device being adapted to bring a picture into synchronism with i the sound tocorrect for'slippage of the record on the drum. g 15 In sound reproducing devices in which the film is carried on a smooth drum, slippage occurs due to the fact'that no teeth are driving the film and the purpose of the present invention is to drive the film through the sound portion '0! the ma- 20 chine at as nearly a constant speed as can possibly'be 'obtained,-and to make corrections for the slippage of the film by momentarily slowing down the speed of all ofthe sprockets carrying the film through the machine. 25 mentarily-change the speed of the pictures but due to the persistenceof vision a person viewing the picture cannot detect this change, I

The speedoi. the film through the picture portion of the projector can be changed as follows: 30 1. The provision of a clutch-between the driving motor and all sprockets in the machine makes it possible to momentarily disengage the latter from the driving motor.

2. The provision of a motor drive for the sound 5 portion of the machine, and ,a separate motor a drive for the sprockets and the intermittent movement in the machine, makes it possible to slow down the latter drive by either- (a) Momentarily interrupting the current sup- 4 ply to the latter motor;

\ (b) By phase displacement; e. g., throwing out of synchronism by D. C. on starter windings, etc.; or

(0) By the momentary cessation of, or the 45 speeding up of, the action of said last motor.

' Another object of the invention is the provision in a projector 01? a film positively driven at a plurality oi. points and frictionally driven at at least one other point, and the provision of means for 50 compensating said positive drive to correct for slippage in said friction drive.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a projector of feed and takeup sprockets and an intermittent movement, all adapted to 55 positively move a fllm'therethrough, the provi- This will mosion of a frictional drive engaging the film between the intermittent movement and one of said sprockets, loops being provided in the film on either side of said frictional drive, and the provision of means engaging the film in the vicinity -5 of one of the loops and adapted to control the speed of the; sprockets to maintain the picture carried by said sprockets in synchronism with sound reproduced from the film while under the influence of the frictional drive.

Still another object of the invention is the provision in a sound projector of means varying the number of pictures projected per second to compensate for slippage of the film through a sound reproducer in said projector without detection by an audience due to the persistence of vision. Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a device through which film passes, the film being positively. driven at a plurality of points and frictionally driven at another point, and the provision of means, associated with the means for positively driving the film, for making predetermined linear correctionsin the speed of the film thereover at intermittent intervals to compensate for slippage of the film where it is irictionally driven, and to bring the film, where it is positively driven, into synchronism therewith. Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a smooth drum for moving film through a sound reproducer and sprocket, drives for feeding and projecting the. film and delivering it to and from the drive; and 1 Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of i a soundpicture projector showing one method of controlling-a compensating device.

In the embodiment herein shown and described, a single motor drives both the sprocket and the sound drum., Loops are maintained on each side of the sound drum and, when one of these loops becomes shortened due to the slippage of the film passing over the, drum, or due, to changes in the lengths of these loops because of other linear errors in the movement of the film over the drum, it actua-tesa de-clutching device which disassociates the sprockets from the motor for several picture frames. For example, with the drum of a definite circumference, difierent thicknesses of film moving thereover will have various linear errors of movement which will cause one of the loops to become shortened and the other to become lengthened. 5s

Referring to Figure 1, a motor II is provided with a reduction gear box I I on one end thereof which includes a shaft l2 which is driven, at the rate of 144 revolutions a minute, for example. A shaft 13, mounted co-axially with respect to the shaft 12, is provided with a flanged member it having a plurality of studsii extending from the face thereof. The flanged member I4 is fixed or keyed into the shaft IS in any suitable manher. A hub member i6 is keyed or otherwise fixed on the shaft i2 and carries a plurality of spring members I! and 18. The spring members i! bear against the studs l5, and the spring members iii are each formed to partially embrace a stud l9, one stud is being provided adjacent to each stud l5. This arrangement of the flanged member 14, the hub member Ii and the sprockets and studs constitutes a combined flexible drive and mechanical filter.

A flywheel 22 is carried by the shaft [3 and forms a working fit therewith. This flywheel is not keyed to the shaft; it has a depression 23 formed therein and a friction member 24 frictionally engaging the bottom surface 25 of the depression 23. The friction member 24 is spring pressed against the surface 25 by a plurality of spring arms 26 which are secured to a flange member 21. This flange member is provided with a hub 28 which is keyed or pinned to the shaft l3 in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a taper pin 29.

The upper end of the shaft II has secured thereto a drum 3!! which is provided with flanges SI and 32. It is also provided with smooth surface 33 between the two flanges.

A crank arm 34, suitably pivoted in the frame- 35, carries a roller 36 adapted to engage and hold a fllm in contact with the surface 33 of the drum. A spring 31 associated with the arm 3i and the frame 35, imparts a predetermined pressure on the roller which is in turn transferred to the drum along the line of contact of the roller with the fllm. The other end of the motor II is provided wi a reduction gear box 38 and has extended therefrom a shaft 39 which, in the embodiment shown,

rotates at a speed of 360, revolutions per minute. The shaft 3! is supported by suitable journals II and I2 and has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a clutch member ll. The clutch member II has a notch 43 formed therein having a straight side and a slanting side terminating in a groove ll.

A clutch member I, freely mounted on the shaft 39, is provided with a projection 46 having a straight side and a slanting side terminating in a tongue 41 which, when the clutch members are in engagement, forms a lit with the notch 43 with thetongue l1 restingin thegroove.

The clutch member 45 is provided with a hubhaving a groove 4! formed therein and has securedtheretoagearil. Aspringil ispositioned on the shaft 3! between the journal I! and the gear tending to hold the clutch members 4i and 45 into engagement with each other. Anarmiisupportedonapivotshaftilisprovided with a yoke 5| e the groove 4!. The other end of the arm 52 is pivotally connected to a plunger 55 by means of a pivot pin 5.

The plunger 55 is operatively associated with a solenoid 51. when the winding of the solenoid is energized, the plunger is'drawn into the solenoid thereby di n aging the projection 48 of theclutchmemberlifrmntbenotchflformed rss 'theciumh member 0.

Ashaitilhassecuredatoneendthereofa gear 5! which meshes with the gear 50. The other end of the shaft 50 has associated therewith an intermittent movement positioned in a housing 50. This housing also contains the intermittent of a Geneva" movement and has associated therewith a shaft 6| carrying an intermittent sprocket 62. A shaft 63 suitably journaled in the frame 35, has secured thereto a sprocket 64 which functions as a feed and takeup sprocket.

The shaft 58 and the shaft 63 are podtively linked -together in driving relation, a chain sprocket 65 being secured to the shaft 58 and a like chain sprocket 66 being secured to the shaft flandanendlesschainiliinkingiiandiitogather.

ReiferringtoFigure2,theiilm,designatedbythe numeral 88, passes from a reel (not shown) along the surface of the sprocket M and may be held into engagement with this sprocket by means of a roller $9 and may pass between free rollersllandli. Aloop 'llisformedinthe fllmabovethefllmgateil. Thefllmpasses through the flhn gate to the intermittentfllm sprockd; 62, a roller ll being provided to retain the him in engagement with this sprocket.

Below the intermittmt sprocket, a loop 15 is formedinthefllmafterwhichitbetween freerollers'land'll overthesurfaceofasound gate ",overaroller II andontothesurfaoe II of a drum 3..

The film is held into engagement with the dnnnbymeansoftherollerflcarriedonthe arm 34 above described. the spring 31 being of sufficient tension to hold the film frictionally sgainstthesurfaceflofthedrum. Thisfllmis in contact with the surface 33 over the major portion of the surface of the drum, thereby holding slippage down to a minimum.

The film leaving the drmn over the roller andisformedintoaloopilafterwhichit.

betwecntheireerollersllandflandis alsoengagedbysaneoftheteethinthesprocket N. Arollerllholdstheiliniincotactwith thelowersuriaoeofthc-sprocket.

Theflhmafterleavingthissprockehpasses toasuitabletakeupreelmotshown).

Abrsekdflsrmportedonasuitablepivotpin lihassecuredtheretoamercuryswitchl. The upperendofthebracketlloarriesapivotshaft l'lwhichJnturmhasmvotallymountedther-eon archer".

Oneterminalflofthemercuryswitchlis emnectedviaawirelltooneendofthesolenoid l1. Theotherterminalllofthemercuryswitch isoonnectedviathewirefltossouroeotcurrent flwhichisintnrnconnectedtotheotherend ofthi'ewindingofthesolenoidilbymcansofa wire 'Ihesoundgateilhssanspertureiformed therdn andhas positioned on one side thereof a lightsensitiveeellflwhichisconnectedtoa suitable amplifier 91. Aloud speaker 08 and its neldcoll O! are connected to the amplifier.

Anopticalscanningunit Iliispositioned above thesoundgatell,asshowninl"igure2. A) source of illumination III is provided for both thesoundandthepictures. Hghtfrom this source Ill, via a suitable condensing lens 70 ll2,throughtheflhngate'llandviaanobiective lens llitoascreenl.

Arefiector lliispositionedonthcoppod te sideofthesourcetotbatottheoondensinglens toreflcctiightthereth owh. 'Iheoptiealscan- 'ning unit I00 receives its light endwise from the source llil, the latter being inverted for this purpose.

When the device is operating, the film 68 is positively moved by the sprocket 64 and the intermittent sprocket 62 to project a picture on the screen I04. As the film leaves the intermittent sprocket .G2 it is frictionally driven by means of the drum 30, the loops 15 and 80 removing it from the mechanical influence of the sprocket.

As the drum 381s driven at a constant speed, the sound is reproduced at a uniform rate. Due to the fact that the film is frictionally driven by the drum slight increments of slippage occur which eventually shorten the loop 80.

As the loop.80 is shortened, the roller 88 is engaged and the bracket 84 is tilted, thereby tilting the mercury switch 86 and causing the mercury to connect the contacts 89 and 90 together. This action completes a circuit between the source of current 93 and the winding of the solenoid 51, resulting in the movement of the plunger 55 and through the medium of the arm 52, the clutch member is disengaged from the member 4| for one revolution of the shaft 39.

Due to the fact that the shaft 39 is driven at the rate of 360 revolutions per minute, and due to the fact that the pictures are projected at the rate of 1440 a minute, the momentary disengagement of the sprocket mechanism from the driving mechanism will lengthen the loop four picture frames and permit the bracket 84 and the mer- I cury switch 86 to assume their normal positions.

It is recognized that the picture may vary as much as'four frames relative to the sound without perceptibly affecting the synchronism of the pictures with the sound.

In the embodiment of the invention above described, a mechanical member is shown engaging one of the loops for the purpose of efiecting control, but I do not wish to limit my invention to this showing as it is obvious that control can also be effected by conductive, inductive, capacitive and/or electronic means cooperating with the film, preferably where it forms one of the loops.

In the embodiment shown and described, the drum is preferably of a diameter whose circumference is substantially equal to the length of ten picture frames, therefore, the drum is driven at the rate of 144 revolutions per minute, the speed of the film is equal to the length of 1440 picture frames.

Although a simple embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is obvious that many changes can be made in the arrangement shown without departing fromjhe spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for projecting pictures and reproducing sound, a combined sound and picture record, a driving motor, a plurality of sprocket means for moving said film through said device to project said pictures, detachable-means between said motor and said sprocket means, a scanning device including a sound gate for producing light modulations corresponding to said sound portion of the record, a non-positive driving member operatively connected to said motor for moving said film through said sound gate, means forming a loop in said film between said non-positive driving member and one of said sprocket.

means functioning as a takeup sprocket, means forming a loop insaid film between said sound means controlled by the length of said first loop for momentarily actuating said detachable means thereby momentarily interrupting the driving of all said sprocket means to bring the picture into synchronism with the portion of the sound record being scanned.

2. In a device for projecting pictures and reproducing sound, a combined sound and picture record, a film gate, a source of illumination on one side of said film gate, an objective lens on the other side of said gate, sprocket means for moving said film through said device including an intermittent movement associated with said film gate, a smooth drum engaging and driving said film during a portion of its transit through the device, a motor, means connecting said motor to said drum, means connecting said motor.

to said sprocket means, a scanning device including a sound gate positioned adjacent to said drum and adapted to scan the sound portion of said record, means forming a loop in said film between said drum and said sprocket means,

- means forming a loop in said film between said sound gate and said film gate, and means associated with said first loop for disassociating "said sprocket means from said motor thereby retarding the projection of pictures to compensate for slippage of the film over said drum.

3. In a device for projecting pictures and reproducing sound, a combined sound and picture record, a film gate, a source of illumination on one side of said film gate, an objective lens on the other side or said'gate, sprocket means for moving said film through said device including an intermittent movement associated with said film gate, a smooth drum engaging and driving said film during a portion of its transit'through the device, a motor, means connecting said motor to said drum, means including a magnetically operated clutch connecting said motor to said sprocket means, a scanning device including a sound gate positioned adjacent to said drum and means forming a loop in said film between said drum and said sprocket means, means forming a loop in said film between said sound gate and said film gate, a switch including a connection to a source of current and to the magnet of said clutch, and means adjacent to the first of said loops and adapted tobe engaged by the latter when the film has slipped on said drum a predetermined length for actuating said switch and energizing said circuit thereby momentarily disconnecting said motor from said sprocket means, thereby maintaining said loop a predetermined general size.

4. In a device for projecting pictures and reproducing sound, a combined sound and picture record, a motor, sprocket means driven by said motor for moving said film through said device to project said pictures, a clutch between said motor and said sprocket means, a scanning device including a sound gate for producing light modulations corresponding to said sound portion of the record, a non-positive driving member driven by saidmotor for moving said film through over said nonpositive driving member a predew gate and another of said sprocket means, and

termined amount, a switch controlled by the movement of said last member, mechanical means for disengaging said clutch, and a circuit including said switch said mechanical means and a source of current whereby said sprocket means may be disassociated with said motor when said record slips a predetermined amount.

5. A device of the character described, a picture projector and a sound reproducer for reproducing pictures and the accompanying sound from a combined sound and picture record, a motor, positive means for driving said record through said picture projector, a magnetic clutch between said motor and said positive means, a non-positive means for driving said record through said sound reproducer, a mechanical filter between said motor and said non-positive means, said positive means including a plurality of sprockets, a loop between an intermittent sprocket and said sound reproducer, a second loop between said sound reproducer and a takeup sprocket, switch means cooperating with said last loop and actuated when the record has slipped a predetermined amount, connections between a source of current, said clutch and said switch means for momentarily interrupting said positive driving means thereby bringing the picture into synchronism with the sound reproduced.

6. In a device for reproducing pictures and sound from a moving film record, a scanning device including a sound gate for scanning said record and a picture gate through which said pictures are projected, a motor, a non-positive driving means operatively connected to said motor and having a mechanical filter associated therewith for moving said film through said sound gate with a minimum of mechanical errors, podtive driving means including a magnetically controlled clutch for feeding said film to and taking up s'aid film irom said non-positive driving means, said positive driving means including an intermittent motion associated with said picture gate, 

